Machine element or mechanism – Elements – Gear casings
Patent
1986-05-25
1989-02-28
Smith, Gary L.
Machine element or mechanism
Elements
Gear casings
F16H 5702
Patent
active
048074926
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mechanism for supporting transmission shafts in an automatic transmission apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Automatic transmission apparatus for vehicles have many transmission shafts such as an input shaft, output shaft and intermediate shafts between the input and output shafts. Usually, these transmission shafts are rotatably supported at their both ends.
When the span of support of a transmission shaft is large, or when a load is applied to a mid portion between two supporting points, the transmission shaft tends to be deflected and oscillated at the mid portion thereof. This in turn causes a vibration such as to abnormally load the transmission apparatus, resulting in a deterioration of the durability of the transmission apparatus.
This type of automatic transmission apparatus usually has an automatic transmission case which is constituted by a torque converter housing accommodating the hydraulic transmission unit and an extension housing fixed to the output side, i.e., the rear end, of the transmission case. Usually, each transmission shaft is supported rotatably at two points thereof on an automatic transmission case.
In the conventional automatic transmission apparatus of the type described, the output shaft is supported at its mid portion and the output end or rear end portion thereof by the rear end portion of the transmission case and by the rear end portion of the extension housing, respectively, while the input-side end of the output shaft is unsupported. The present inventors have found that, as a result of current trends for large engine output power and, hence, an increase of the torque to be transmitted, the unsupported input-side end portion of the output shaft tends to be oscillated particularly when the span of support is large or when load imposed on the output shaft acts in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the same at a portion between two supporting points, which in turn causes a large vibration and a consequent abnormal load on the transmission, resulting in a deterioration of durability of the automatic transmission apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a first object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for supporting a transmission shaft in an automatic transmission apparatus for vehicles, which is improved to prevent oscillation of the transmission shaft at a portion thereof between supporting points, while avoiding any difficulty which is encountered due to the necessity for the centering of the transmission shaft with respect to three supporting points during assembly of the transmission.
A second object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for supporting a transmission shaft in an automatic transmission apparatus for vehicles, which is capable of effectively preventing oscillation of the unsupported input-side end portion of the transmission shaft, while minimizing the axial length of the transmission shaft assembly as a whole.
In order to meet the first object of the invention, there is provided a supporting mechanism for supporting a transmission shaft in an automatic transmission apparatus for use in vehicles, comprising means for supporting the transmission shaft at both end portions and an intermediate portion of the transmission shaft, wherein the amount of clearance of the transmission shaft at the intermediate portion is greater than those at the both end portions of the transmission shaft.
With this arrangement, since a greater amount of clearance of the transmission shaft is afforded at the intermediate supporting portion than at both end supporting portions, the support at the intermediate portion of the transmission shaft becomes effective only when the amplitude of oscillation of the intermediate portion of the transmission shaft has become large. In consequence, the vibration of the shaft is effectively prevented to ensure higher durability of the constituent parts such as bearings of the automatic transmission apparatus. At the
REFERENCES:
patent: 2787167 (1957-04-01), Schwab
patent: 3362245 (1968-01-01), Francuch et al.
patent: 3602055 (1971-08-01), Hause et al.
patent: 3648546 (1972-03-01), McNamara et al.
patent: 4106358 (1978-08-01), Morrison
patent: 4357840 (1982-11-01), Winzeler
patent: 4455890 (1984-06-01), Kuramochi et al.
patent: 4528867 (1985-07-01), Semba et al.
patent: 4586401 (1986-05-01), Nogle
patent: 4602519 (1986-07-01), Atkins et al.
patent: 4606242 (1986-08-01), Hasegawa et al.
Ando Yasushi
Hoshino Akira
Kano Takenori
Kobayashi Yukihiro
Moroto Syuzo
Aisin-Warner Limited
Lindsey Rodney M.
Smith Gary L.
Toyota Jidosha K.K.
LandOfFree
Mechanism for supporting transmission shafts of automatic transm does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Mechanism for supporting transmission shafts of automatic transm, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mechanism for supporting transmission shafts of automatic transm will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1357845